Workshop: Microsoft Azure Expert Training (March 21-22, Skopje, Macedonia)

Well, it was about time to have this workshop back home. :) With the support and hospitality of Microsoft Macedonia office, we conducted Azure Expert Track training for our local partners in Macedonia. I got a group of 15 eager to learn IT Pros, and during the 2 days we covered the Azure Fundamentals, and dug in to "secrets" of Azure IaaS platform. 

The exercises were mostly part of the Ingram Micro EasyAzure pack - EasyWeb Wordpress, EasyData File Server, EasyBackup Azure, EasyLAMP Ubuntu. This was the first time I use this format, and based on the eval input the audience liked it. We also worked on the RDS Blueprint (SBS Scenario replacement) as well as on CheckPoint NGF Blueprint. The finale was Azure Calculator usage presentation, mixed with solution scenarios discussion and real world problems brainstorming session.

They consumed a lot of information within 2 days, but we still had time to discuss, experiment and think of possible implementations within their customer base.

Workshop: Microsoft Azure Expert Training (March 14-15, Stockholm, Sweden)

 Another session on Microsoft Azure, this time for our Swedish partners. It was a 2 day training at Ingram Micro Sweden offices, with nice cozy weather conditions (it was -10, but feels like was close to -15:). The group was compiled of experienced IT Pros. Primary focus of the training is on Infrastructure-as-a-Service model, with demos and hands on labs focusing on predefined scenarios in operating, planning, creating and configuring the IaaS environment.

Day 1 was focused on Azure Fundamentals: Welcome and introduction, Azure Portal, Resource Groups, Storage Accounts, Virtual networks and Network Interfaces (incl PIP, VPN, Gateways and Peering), Network Security Groups, Virtual Machines, VM Extensions, Scale and Availability Sets, Load Balancer, Traffic Manager. We finished strong with deploying WordPress Multi-tier app and Acronis Backup Blueprints.

Day 2, after the wrap up of Day 1 and discussion, was reserved for more Blueprints - Remote Desktop Services (Small Business Server Replacement) and CheckPoint Blueprints. We spiced up things with short presentation on what's new in Microsoft azure or what's coming in near future, as well as Azure Calculator session.


Had quite a few discussion on solution designs, real world problems, and did quite a brainstorming with the group. Looking forward on seeing them progress further in the Azure model and mapping their clients needs to specific workloads and solutions.